Fixture and outlet-box support



Oct. 7, 1930. M. M. CLAYTON 1,777,291

FIXTURE AND OUTLET BOX SUPPORT Filed July 25, 1928 INVENTOR Adz. MOP- w;

WITNESS Wa l Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED S TES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN M. CLAYTON, or isAmiN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY mns E AssIaN- mENrs, r0 NA'rroNAr. ELECTRIC rnonuc'rs CORPORATION, A conronA'rroN or DELAWARE FIXTURE AND OUTLET-BOX SUPPORT The invention relates to that class of sup ports for outlet-boxes and fixtures in systems of electrical wiring in buildings wherein the same are connected to and supported 8 by a so-called hanger-bar, which in its turn is secured to and-spans the space between adjacent joists or other structural members; and the object is to provide a support for that purpose which is of simple construction, is adapted to boxes and like fixtures of the accepted commercial types without requiring any modification thereof. and will hold the same firmly against displacement and rotation. A further object which is attainedis that the member or members which serve to connect the box to the bar may be initially adjusted to the desired position upon the bar and belocked in place, and the box may be added and secured in place subsequently without disturbing such predetermined fixed relation-of the parts.

Another object is to provide a hangerbar to which a fixture may be attached without an outlet box, if so desired, and secured against displacement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partial exterior plan view of an outlet-box secured to a hanger-bar by the means to be described. Figure 2 is a crosssectional elevation taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view, and Figure 4 is a side elevation, of what I call the hanger. Figures 5 and 6 are respectively like views of a fixture stud. Figure 7 is a cross-section of a preferred form of bar. Figure 8 is a plan view of the bar with its intermediate portion broken away.

It will be understood that the View of the bar 1 in Figure 1 is partial only, and that it is extended at the opposite sides of the box and its ends are secured to neighboring joists of the building. or to other suitable supports, in ways well known in the art. In Figure 7 I have shown the bar 1 as a stri of steel 5 or other suitable metal folded longitudinally to form the connected leaves 2, 3, projecting from the apex of the fold-in diverging lines, so that when subjectedto compression inwardly, they will be put under an outward tension. But a solid bar may be used, as

well as a bar of any suitable cross-sectional being of a form and size suitable 'to receive the shank 13 depending from the head 9 of the fixture-stud 10. At the top of the head 9 of the fixture-stud are opposite rectangular flanges 11 which rest upon the floor 6 of the hanger at the opposite ends of the opening 8, while the stud is prevented from turning in the seat thus formed by the bearing of the opposite side edges of the flanges 11 against the inner faces of the opposite wings 5 of the hanger. The open transverse channel 12 is formed in the head 9 of the fixture-stud, and this channel registers with the openbottom slots 7 in the wings 5 above, so as to form a passage-way for the bar 1 through the assembled hanger and stud.

The shank 13 of the fixture-stud is cylindrical in form and it is threaded externally for the attachment of any suitable fixture. The shank 13 also has an internally threaded hollow bore 14 within which works the setscrew 15. The said internally threaded hollow bore 14 within which works the set-screw 15 is threaded to an accepted pipe standard thus permitting the forward end of the threaded bore to be used for attaching fixture stems, the set-screw 15 being similarly threaded. Thus by driving the screwlfi inwardly its tip will be made to bear against the bar 1 and to bind the bar tightly against the upper edges of the slots 7 in the wings 5 above and on the opposite sides of'the the channel in the top of the fixture-stud and the slots 7 in the wings 5 of the hanger. When the desired adjustment has been made the hanger and stud are locked upon the bar.

- the hanger whenever convenient.

The outlet-box 16 is shown in the drawings as one of a' well-known type. It may have the usual knock-out openings 17 in its side-walls, and in its base as Well, and in its base it also has the central opening 18, and symmetrically arran ed around the opening 18, and at a stand ard distance from centre to centre, theyusual diametrically opposite holes 19 for nails or screws. The Web or floor. 6 of the'hanger has at its opposite ends the extended ears or projections 20 and 21. The ear 20 has at its outer'end ahook 22 adapted to enter one of the holes 19 in the base of the box, and the ear 21 has formed in its outer end a threaded hole 23 in position to register with the diametrically opposite hole 19. In ositioning the box one of the holes 19 in its ase is looped upon the hook 22, and then by swinging upon this connection as a hinge the central opening 18 is looped around the shank 13 of the fixture-stud and the opposite hole 19 is brought into registry with the threaded hole 23 in the ear 21. Then by means of the screw 24 the box is locked to the hanger as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fixture and outlet-box support comprising a channeled hanger having opposite lateral wings, aligned openings in said wings adapted to receive a transversely extending bar, means carried by said hanger adapted to engagethe bar at a point between the lines of said wings and bind the bar in said openings, and means at the opposite ends of said hanger adapted to engage an outlet-box.

2. A fixture and outlet-box support comprising a hanger having an apertured floor head of said fixture-stud at right-angles to lar internally threaded stud portion projecting through said aperture, a channel in the head of said fixture-stud at right-angles to said wings, slots in said wings in registry with said channel, a bar in said channel'and slots, and a screw in the bore of said fixturestud adapted to engage said bar and bind the said members together, the threads for said screw in said bore of said fixture stud being of pipe standard in order to receive parts of electric fixtures similarly threaded. i

4. A fixture and outlet-box support comprising a hanger having an apertured floor and opposite lateral upstanding wings, a fixture-stud comprising a head resting on said floor between said wings and thereby re-- strained from turning and a depending tubular internally threaded stud portion projecting through said aperture, a channel in the said wings, slots in said wings in registry with said channel, a bar in said channel and slots, a screw in the bore of said fixture-stud adapted to engage said bar and bind the said members together, and means at the opposite ends of said hanger adapted to engage an outlet-box.

5. A fixture and outlet-box support comprising a hanger having an apertured floor and opposite lateral upstanding wings, a

fixture stud having a head'resting on said floor between said wings and thereby re-' strained from turning and a depending tubu lar internally threaded stud portion projecting through said aperture, a channel in the head of said fixture stud at right angles to said wings, slots in said wings in registry with said channel, and a transversely extend ing bar in said channel and siots.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. MARTIN M. CLAYTQN.

and opposite lateral upstanding wings, a fixture-st-ud comprising a head resting on said floor between said wings and thereby re-- strained from turning and a depending tubular internally threaded stud portion projecting through said aperture, a channel in the head of said fixture-stud at right-angles to said wings, slots in said wings in registry with said channel, a bar in said channel and slots, and a screw in the bore of said fixturestud adapted to engage said bar and bind the said members together.

3. A fixture and outlet-box support comprising a hangerhaving an apertured floor and opposite lateral upstanding wings, a fixture-stud comprising a head resting on said floor between said wings and thereby restrained from turning and a depending tubu- 

